Outlet box



March 31, 1931. asm/IN 1,198,838

OUTLET `BOX Filed arch 5, 1927 by VS Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES SAMUEL GARVIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS OUTLET BOX Application filed March 5,

Generally stated, this invention relates to improvements in outlet boxes which, for locating them in their operative position, are adjustable longitudinally on an overhead t' lioist or else on a rod or bag supported by the reinforced concrete of the ceiling.

My invention, more specifically stated, relates to improvements in outlet boxes suspended from and. adiustable upon a bar bridging adjacent joists or rafters and by means of a carrier head projecting axially through the box, the outer end of Which carrier head has a slot sleeved on the bar and its inner end provided with screw threat s for a nut to clamp the box to the bar in its adjustable position and also for suspending a chandelier therefrom.

Outlet boxes commonly constructed as above described heretofore are subject to a number of objections among which may be mentioned the time, expense and cost of the material incurred in the construction of their carrier heads; the liability of their tightening nuts to Work loose; and that after fasf'f tening around the box and over the bar the box cannot be removed Without removing the bar from its operative position.

The objects of this invention are, therefore, to substantially reduce the cost of material, simplify and reduce the cost of the construction of outlet boxes and their assemblage to a minimum; and at the same time provide means by which it is possible and practical to detach the outlet box from its fifi suspending bar Without disturbing such bar or removing it from its operative position.

Other objects and advantages Will appear from the following description of an illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a structure embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along line II-II of Figure 1, with parts shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates the device shown in Figure 1 as viewed from the interior thereof..

. The outlet box selected for illustration is 1927. Serial No. 173,000.

suspended from a bar 10 fastened or other- Wise secured to a fixed structure such as the spaced joists 11. The joists 11 are not always in uniformly spaced relation so that it is desirable to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 12 in the bar 10 to receive appropriate fasteners 13 therethrough to engage the joists 11.

Adjustably supported from the bar 10 so that its position may be readily rectified is 'Si The slot 15 is of such size as to loosely receive the clip extremity 17 projecting therethrough, whereby itl is pivotally associated Withthe outlet box v14 or other article to permit the other extremity 18 of the clip to lie substantially flush With the surface of the 7 box.

The free extremity 18 of the clip 16 is provided With a threaded aperture 19 adapted to communicate with an aperture 2O provided in the outlet box 14. through the aperture 20 from the interior ol the outlet box 14 so that the head 21 thereof may be manipulated to cause the threaded shank of the fastener to engage the correspondingly threaded aperture 19, supra,

thereby selectively preventing movement of the box 14 with respect to the bar 10 which is disposed between theA clip 16 and the surface of the box 14.

The clip 16 is preferably provided With a depression 22 intermediate the extremities thereof to accommodate the bar 10 so that the body of the clip 16 may contact with the surface of the outlet box 14 When the fastener 21 is in its extreme operative posi- '5l' tion at which time relative movement between the bar 10 and outlet box 14 is prevented, the box or other article being positively secured to the bar 10.

A As shown, the outlet box 14 is provided with A fastener 21 is inserted i parent from the above an axial perforation 23 surrounded by a depressed portion 24 preferably of polygonal configuration to receive a threaded stud 25 having` a polygonal head 26 corresponding in shape with the depression 24 to prevent relative rotation therebetween, the head 25 being counters-uni: so as to' be disposed in the plane of the outlet box 1K1, The bard@ is diametrically disposed on the box to confront the aperture wherein the studr 25 is positioned, thereby effecting engagement between the bar 10 and the head 26 of the studv 2,5 which is retained in position against removal, it being provided to secure any `suitable fixture thereto.

l/Vith the above arrangement of parts, it will be apparent that the box 14 may be stamped or otherwise-produced V`from ordinary sheet materia-l to detachably receive an inexpensive clip 16 which is p'ivotally or otherwise associated therewith to receive a support 10 therebetween. The position of the box 1-1 along the support '10 vmay be rectified Y by merely loosening the fastener 21 so that the box ltmay be moved'to any desired position whereafter the fastener 21 is tightened to effect positive engagements thereof with the support 10, a feature not present in de'- vces whereinY the article is suspended by tangs struck from the body. It vis to be noted that the box 14 may be secured to the bar 1() after the latter has been secured in position, since the clip 16 may be readily associated and disassociated with the box 14 as will be apdescription.

This association and box from the bar indicates animportant advantage `and result attributableito my invention, namely that vit' provides 'a means by which following the plastering ove-r'of the bar and around the box, the latter may bedet'ached from its suspending barwifth'outY disturbing su-eh plaster'in'g and so that only the hole left by the box need thereafter be plas- 7" tered over. y

I am aware that many changes may be made andnum'erous details of construction inay'be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and I, therefore, dov not purpose limiting the' patent granted here'on, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as' my invention:

1, As an article of manufacture, an outlet box having an aperturetherein anda depressionjleading to the aperture, a stud extending thro-ugh 'said aperture and having a head seated in said depression, a clip pivotally and removably secured adj aoent an end thereof to said box, saidclp being pivotal normally tol said box to permit engagement over a supporting element, and adjustable means for securing the'free end of said clip to said'box to cause said clip to hol-d said support in contact with said stud.

disassociation of the -ward movement of said stud, and adjustable means for securing the free end of said clip to said box for clamping said box to said support.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name. y

^ Y SAMUEL GAR-VIN. 

